Now You Know: Seasonal commerce

In December 2012, retail sales at department stores in the United States amounted to an estimated $25.9 billion, up more than 39 percent from the previous month. That’s nearly 14 percent of all sales for 2012. December sales for jewelry stores accounted for 20.5 percent of their sales that year.

The U.S. imported $1 billion worth of tree ornaments from China during the first nine months of this year. It also imported $93 million worth of fake Christmas trees during the same time.

The U.S. Postal Service estimates it will deliver about 15 billion pieces of mail between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve this year. Dec. 16 was the busiest day for mailing, and Dec. 18 was the busiest delivery day.

There were 70 establishments in the United States in 2011 that made mostly dolls and other stuffed toys. There were 524 places that made primarily games, children’s vehicles and other toys. They employed 7,187 people.